The increased pace of counterterrorism strikes in Yemen by U.S. drones and aircraft is a result of what U.S. military and intelligence officials describe as improved intelligence about the leadership of the al Qaeda movement in that country.

The United States is using a broad range of assets, including manned U.S. fighter jets, along with unmanned drones operated by the military and by the CIA, according to two senior American officials who would not be identified because of the sensitive nature of the information.

The target list of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula terrorists the United States has developed has emerged since an American drone killed Anwar al-Awlaki last year in Yemen. Al-Awlaki was identified as a key operative, and the United States has focused on trying to determine the leadership structure that has emerged since his death.

Both officials said the standard of judgment for a U.S. strike is that the target must have a "direct interest" in attacking the America.

"The emphasis is on surgical targeting" one official said, explaining that the focus is on specific targets where there is detailed intelligence that supports the decision to conduct an airstrike.

Just this past week, five U.S. drone strikes killed six suspected al Qaeda militants in the southeastern Yemeni province of Shabwa, two security officials and one defense ministry official told CNN's Hakim Almasmari. According to two Defense Ministry officials, at least 11 U.S. attacks were conducted on Yemeni soil over the past week alone.

The Defense Secretary Leon Panetta emphasized on Thursday that the United States is seeking out only those who threaten the America.

"Our target there represents those terrorists, or those al Qaeda terrorists that involve a threat to this country, and there are very specific targets," Panetta said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. "This is not broad-based, we are not becoming part of any kind of civil war disputes in that country. We are very precise, and very targeted and will remain pursuant to those operations."

He added that the position of the administration "is to go after ... those al Qaeda terrorists, who are involved in planning attacks on this country. No more, no less."

The United States is also working with Yemen's special forces to increase their capabilities as part of the counterterrorism strategy in that country, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the same committee.

"It's important not to see this as we are only doing one thing and not the other," Gen. Martin Dempsey said.

soundoff(41 Responses)

Pete

Eliminating the leadership who are planning strikes on the US should be applauded but does not really address the problem. First, Awlaki's role in the organization should not be over-estimated. He was probably the director of US operations but this was not as significant in AQAP's strategy as there "near" war. To be effective, we must reduce AQAP's overall capability and erode its ties with its Somali allies. While the eliminationg of an Awlaki is a success, ultimately a capable replacement will be identified if the overall group is allowed to flourish. AQAP's predecessor was susceptible to de-capitation perhaps a similiar strategy targeting AQAP might be part of a broader strategy.

While the strategy of increased strikes against those threatening the US should be applauded, we need to ask whether a broader objective is being missed. AQAP's predecessor organization AQY was susceptible to decapitation. Might a similar strategy against the broader AQAP be considered to reduce its overall organizational capability. Trying to eliminate those who wish to strike the US is laudable but ultimately reducing AQAP's operational capability and its resource pipeline in Somalia is the broader objective.

My concerns are the lack of due process. If surgical attacks are justified on suspicion, what are the penalties for incorrect assumptions. If the enemy acts suspicious as a ruse and the US intel team falls for it, they could be guilty of unjustified homicide. Sort of like those that were made fools by Saddam's WMD ruse.

Whether our war against Al Qeada is worth it depends on whether you believe that they hate us for what we DO or for what we ARE. If they hate us for what we DO (i.e. our invasions of Muslim countries, our support of Israel or our support of Muslim dictators), then we could avoid conflict with Al Qeada by changing our behaviors (and there are some that we SHOULD change for our own reasons). However, I believe that they hate us for what we ARE. Our cultural values are secularism, pluralism, individualism, and toleration. In other words, we are the opposite of what Islamists are in every measurable way. ANd worst of all. we are more successful as a culture than they are, objectively demonstrating that our values are superior to theirs. I think that our very existence as a successful culture is an insult to them and they just can't live with it. I think that they use what we DO as an EXCUSE to attack us for what we ARE. As a result, I don't think that changing our behaviors will have much of an effect on their hatred for us. If we stop doing one thing that they hate, they'll just find some other excuse to hate us. So I suppose that the only thing we can reasonably do is to keep fighting them. Personally, I like the targeted drone strikes. They are quick, easy, cheap and apparently pretty effective.

Your thinking is correct. As a member of the Association Of Former Intelligence Officercs (AFIO), I heard Michael Schuer, ex-head of the CIA's bin Laden unit, say your exact words. Robert at Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) News http://www.osintdaily.blogspot.com

We are fighting al queda, which has actually grown dramatically and even caputured a few small towns in the country> It kind of sucks that I could care less what happens there. I'd rather my country not worry about it.

While zionism is a threat, it motherfukkkkers like you who make the world dangerous, Commojoe.

Osiris, god bless you. You are not alone by any means.

April 20, 2012 at 1:37 am |

rick

"our own"? who is this "our" you are referring to? the Gaza city council, the "hookah smokers of ramallah" club? from your fractured english, i doubt you are an american, not even from dearborn. Keep chanting the palestinian mantra: "woe is me, woe is me, everyone but us is the cause of our misery", it's really helped your people so far.

We cannot defeat all these fucking muslim bastards! They are like ants and there is no end to them. I hate religion because I have seen what it has done in the world. The world would be a much better and safer place if there was no religion! 

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CNN's Security Clearance examines national and global security, terrorism and intelligence, as well as the economic, military, political and diplomatic effects of it around the globe, with contributions from CNN's national security team in Washington and CNN journalists around the world.